Canning apparatus.



J. DUNN.

GANNING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00119. 1909.

1,006,371, Patented Oct. 17,1911.

[NVENTOR Aflomey kjrmea 20/20 I J. DUNN. CANNING APPARATUS.

- APPLIOATION FILED 00T.19. 1909. 1,006,371, Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 2076-5' jun/7 JAMES DUNN, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

CANNING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

Application filed October 19, 1909. Serial No. 523,498.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES DUNN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Canning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to the sealing of jars, bottles, cans and other receptacles, especially when used in preserving foods, and has for its objects to provide a means in which the atmospheric pressure on the seal forces it tightly into place; in which the seal cannot be readily accidentally displaced; in which the can may be readily unsealed without injuring the cover; and to provide mechanism for use in sealing the cans. I attain these and other objects by the devices and mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the sealing mechanism showing the parts in the positions they occupy at the beginning of the o oration; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing t e top of the can, sealed; and Fig. 3 is a section of the work table showing the sealing mechanism in elevation.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The cans 1 are preferably provided with a shoulder 2 and a short neck 3. The tops 4 for the cans are shaped so as to fit loosely over the neck and on to the rubber ring or gasket'5 on the shoulder 2. The top 4 is provided with a central depression 6 1n the center of which is formed a conically sided hole 7. A conical plug 8, of any suitable material, fits in the hole 7 and is held therein by the pressure of the air when the air has been exhausted from the inside of the can.

In order to exhaust the air from the inside of the can and to place the plug 8 in position in the hole, while the air is thus exhausted, I have devised the following sealing apparatus. An air pump cylinder 9 is mounted above the can and has a cylindrical chamber 10 secured to its lower side between it and the can. A rubber ring 11 is secured to the lower edge of the chamber 10 to make an air tight connection between the chamber 10 and the top 4. A suitable piston 12 is reciprocated within the cylinder 9 by any suitable means in such a way as to draw the air 18. The rod 16 is toothed to form a short rack 19 in which the teeth of the small wheel 20 engage. The wheel 20 is operated from the outside of the chamber 10 by a handle 21. A pet cock22 is adapted to allow air to enter the chamber 10 when itis opened. The cylinder 9 is mounted above the work table 23, in which a small section 24 is vertically movable. This section 24 is immediately below the chamber 10 and has a centering rim 25 thereon adapted to receive and center the can to be sealed. A foot lever 26 is connected to the section 24 to raise it and the can to bring the top 4 of the can into contact with the rubber ring 11 on the base ofthe chamber 10.

My device is operated as follows :A plug 8 is inserted into the plug socket 17 in the chamber 10 and the handle 21 is turned so that the rod 16 and the socket 17 are drawn up into the chamber 10; then a ring 5 and top 4 are placed in their proper positions on the can 1 and the can is placed in the centeringrim 25 on the section 24 of the table 23; then the foot lever 26 is actuated to raise the can so as to bring the top 4 thereof against the ring 11 of the chamber 10; then the air is exhausted out of the chamber 10 and out of the can 1 (through the hole 7) to any required degree; then the handle 21 is turned to lower the rod 16 and the socket 17 thus bringing the plug 8 to the hole; the socket 17 soon strikes the bottom of the depression 6 in the cover 4 and the rod 16 keeps on descending thus pushing the plug 8 forcibly into place in the hole 7; then the pet cook 22 is opened and air admitted into the chamber 10 thus allowing the can to be removed from'the chamber 10. The depression 6 may then be filled with a wax to protect the plug 8, if desired.

It is evident that many variations in form, shape and proportions of the various devices and mechanisms may be made to suit cans of varying shape and size without departing from my invention in any way, and I hereby intend it to be understood that this description covers any such variation of design which does not depart from the main idea of the invention.

* Having described my invention, what I claim, is:

A canning apparatus comprising an air pump adapted to exhaust air from a can; a chamber connected thereto; a rod within said chamber and vertically movable vtherein; a socket adapted to hold a plug for the can and loosely supported on the end of the rod and axially movable thereon; a spring connecting said rod and said socket to keep the socket near the end of the rod; and a toothed rack and wheel ada ted to be operated from outside of said chamber and engaging said rod to move it vertically whereby the socket is moved to carry the plug to the can and whereby the rod continues its motion and frees the plu from the socket.

In testimony whereof aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses. JAMES DUNN.

Witnesses: FRED C. UDELL, OLIVER orMcLAun. 

